The Maryland State Department of Education says it has approved teacher and principal evaluation plans in 21 Maryland school systems, clearing the way for the state to receive $250 million in federal funds.

Federal education officials are offering states some flexibility on when they have to put the new system into place that would tie student test data to teacher evaluations.

Maryland officials have yet to say whether they'll ask for the one-year extension offered by the federal government, but already, many teachers and principals are counting on the state to act now.

"It means everyone can take a deep breath, exhale and really focus on the work, and we will still implement the approved evaluations, that is a stipulation we have to implement, but it would be more like a field test," state schools Superintendent Lillian Lowery said.

It didn't take long for word of the waiver to reach many of Maryland's classroom teachers already concerned about the changes.

"(We've been) trying to figure this out over the last two and half years," said Charlie Fluharty, a Baltimore County teacher. "It has been really difficult to try figure out how to do that. Having a little bit of extra time, the possibility of that, would be really great for us."

U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan this week had a change of heart when he said he realized that one-size-fits-all solutions don't work. He said the Department of Education will work with each state individually to find the right path and the right pace.

"I really do believe the secretary acted in the best interest of us all. We have made huge milestones in getting those evaluations approved and now we can all just step back and implement with fidelity the Common Core state standards," Lowery said.

The heads of local teachers' unions said this latest move couldn't have come a better time.

"Our teachers really are scrambling trying to get enough training. So, many of them are willing to come in over the summer, on their vacations and do this training, and yet, it's very hard to provide enough for them," said Abby Beytin, president of the Teacher's Association of Baltimore County.

States like Maryland will have until the end of September to ask for that evaluation extension.

"We've been pushing for this for probably a year and half when we realized that we were just were not going to be ready between Common Core and all of the other pieces coming out right. The teachers and the principals were not prepared," Beytin said.

Maryland has already approved individual school system evaluation plans. This latest move will buy the state more time to iron out some of the wrinkles.